Babbling 'brook

Lots of headlines about a Steve Hanson interview of NZ TV overnight. Haven't been able to access the actual broadcast but here's coverage of the headlines: https://www.the42.ie/steve-hansen-new-zealand-board-5827768-Jul2022/ https://youtu.be/_muEuxEjqfk He makes a good point about the NZ u20s. They...

Great to hear that RG has started his pre season. Although he has been with Munster for a couple of seasons now, he will be like a new signing. With himself, Kleyn, Wycherley Ahern and Beirne, Munster have some really good options in the second row, and will be in a position to mix things up when r...

neill_m wrote: ↑July 27th, 2022, 4:47 pm Via @simonrug (Welsh Rugby Journo) on twitter

URC fixtures released at 10:30am tomorrow, weekends only for all rounds with days/times/tv etc to follow next week.

Weekends only? I hope he means Friday nights too.

Looking ahead to the autumn, and with an eye on refining your potential RWC squad, pick your 23 to face Australia on the basis that we really want to win, but nobody who started a test vs the ABs can be selected, nor can Kelleher/Henderson/Conan. Playstyle and player demands stay the same as today ...

Should keep off the ball going for a few days.

Interesting to see ireland had 42% possession in the 3rd test vs NZ. Just goes to show how good the attack is. I'd say ireland is tactically the best attacking side in the world now. The lack of speed on the wing is often spoken about but I don't see any other side playing with the pace of ireland. ...

I’m delighted for Tadhg Beirne and Peter O’Mahony but the over the best players in tour were Sexton and VDF. It seems to have dropped out of the conversation that there was 11 starters from Leinster in the team that beat NZ Probably for the better not to emphasise provincial rivalry. Anyway the sit...

I'm posting partially because I find it extraordinary that our success against NZ, less than a week ago, has slipped so far down the 'Active' list so quickly, but also because, with at least 10 internationals between now and the announcement of the RWC23 Squad, I find it almost inconceivable that F...

Seems to be getting worse and worse. Forcing all the players to move/live in BC at the training centre there hasn't been well received I gather. Remember the 2015 world cup they played some really great rugby but they were very critical and blaming Kieran Crowley for the results. That was bizarre. ...

It's fair to say the win will turbocharge the players belief in the team. The Irish jersey never had the aura of the ABs or Springboks or even Wallabies but that win will have changed things in that regard. Even the Welsh players play above themselves when they put on the wales jersey and have won m...

Sheehan looks a better thrower.

Spain murdered Canadà, which is at the same time pleasing for Los Leones but very concerning for a Canada setup that seems in slow and steady freefall... Seems to be getting worse and worse. Forcing all the players to move/live in BC at the training centre there hasn't been well received I gather. ...

Wales did well but it's interesting to see Wayne Pivac has essentially turned into Warren Gatland. Wales focusing on stopping the opposition and hoping for a breakaway score? The win in the second test should keep the pressure off Pivac for now.

Don’t forget about Stockdale. Be interested to see where Farrell would rate him when fit in the pecking order. Doesn’t bring the same playmaker/football skills that Lowe and Hansen do though and prone to at least one howler a game. The break might be the best thing to happen Stockdale. His confiden...

Quite a few of this current Irish team have won in the last decade: Grand Slam 6 Nations Championships Triple Crowns Heineken Cups Leagues Series win in Australia with Ireland Series win in New Zealand With Ireland Lions Series win in Australia and drawn series in New Zealand All of the old barrier...

Coombes has an appetite for tackling racking up impressive numbers in the Maori games (19 and 16 respectively) but has shown a similar penchant for missed tackles wracking up 4 missed in each game. Perhaps its to his detriment that is head coach is a defence specialist but you're not getting into m...

Would have liked to see Frawley taken off after 50 mins on Tuesday and then selected on bench for the 3rd test. Ireland have progressed hugely but nz know if Sexton does not play min 70 mins that they can exploit Carburys lack of current form and defensive weakness. Nz are much stronger on the wing...

It was an excellent performance. Not perfect but a big improvement on the last game. That win will give the whole squad a lift and put more doubts in NZ minds.

Ireland playing like drains now. Discipline is shocking. Yeah, big step down on previous performances. In a way it was kind of expected. The Scots were on the receiving end of a hammering by Georgia so they were going to be up for it while Ireland were in a no win situation and as we saw, they look...

They had every opportunity to extend the lead against 13 men.